Feeding means for strip casting



Jan. 11, 1966 R. w. HAzELETT ETAL 3,228,072

FEEDING MEANS FOR STRIP CASTING Original Filed March 17, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. l1, 1966 R. w. HAzELx-:TT ETAL 3,228,072

FEEDING MEANS FOR STRIP CASTING Original Filed March l'T, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 QN u /lll INVENTORS AOBEAT WILL/AM HAZELETI' ,WCHA/PD HAZELETT BY G0325' ffm',- ri/h( ATTORNEYS a www QN Jan. 1l, 1966 R.w.HAzE1 ETT ETAL 3,228,072

FEEDING MEANS Foa STRIP CASTING Original Filed March l?, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 LY J..

Jan. 11, 1966 R. w. HAzELx-:TT ETAL 3,228,072

FEEDING MEANS FOR STRIP CASTING Original Filed March 17, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 11, 1966 R. w. HAzELr-:T'r ETAL 3,228,072

FEEDING MEANS FOR STRIP CASTING 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 17. 1958 Jan- 11, 1966 R. w. HAZELETT ETAL 3,228,072

FEEDING MEANS FOR STRIP CASTING Original Filed March 17, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENToRs /POBEPT W/L/AM HAZELE/ ,W6/MED HAZELETT 34 .sy i, ffm? fil/4m( ATTORNEY` United States Patent O 3,228,072 FEEDING MEANS FOR STRIP CASTING Robert William Hazelett and Richard Hazelett, Winooski, Vt., assignors to Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation, Fairfield, Conn.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 125,325, June 14, 1961, which is a division of application Ser. No. 722,005, Mar. 17, 1958, now Patent No. 3,036,348, dated May 29, 1962. This application May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 193,901

7 Claims. (Cl. 22-57A) This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 125,325, filed lune 14, 1961, now abandoned, which is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 722,005, led March 17, 1958, now matured into Patent No. 3,036,348, issued May 29, 1962.

This invention relates to apparatus for casting metal strips directly from molten metal and more particularly for continuously casting metal strips between spaced parallel portions of a pair of flexible metal belts which are moved along with opposite surfaces of the strip being cast.

The invention is described as embodied in the structure and operation of a continuous strip-casting machine in which the molten metal is fed into a casting region between opposed parallel portions of a pair of moving Flexi-ble belts, The moving belts confine the molten metal between them and carry the molten metal along as it solidiiies into a strip between them. Spaced rollers having narrow ridges support and drive the belts while holding them accurately positioned and aligned as they move along so as to produce metal strip of high quality and having good surface qualities. The vast quantities of heat liberated by the molten metal as it solidies are withdrawn through the portions of the two belts which are adjacent to the metal being cast. This large amount of heat is withdrawn by cooling the reverse surfaces of the belts lby means of rapidly moving substantially continuous films of liquid coolant travelling along against these surfaces.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for continuously casting metal strip of high quality directly from molten metal.

It is an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for continuously casting metal strip directly from molten metal enabling the operator quickly and easily to adjust for casting strip metal of various widths and thicknesses as may be desired.

An advantage of the illustrative machine lies in the pour distributor for the molten metal which slows the passage of molten metal and spreads it out to the full width of the strip being cast. This pour distributor releases the molten metal slowly and uniformly across the full width of the strip and releases it beneath the surface of the molten metal already in the lbath on the lower belt. Moreover, the air is completely excluded while the metal is slowed down and spread out beneath the surface of the bath with a minimum of turbulence.

At the instant that the incoming molten metal is released its temperature, of course, is the hottest which must be withstood by the casting belts. Any turbulence present when this incoming metal reaches the lower belt greatly increases the localized rate of heat transfer into the lower belt and can readily overheat it causing it to warp. By releasing the incoming metal uniformly across the full width of the bath of molten metal a cushion of cooler metal is obtained preventing direct impact on the belt and preventing high turbulence at the instance of release.

In this specification and in the accompanying drawings, are descri-bed and shown metal casting kmethods and ap- ICC paratus embodying this invention and various modifications thereof are indicated, but it is to be understood that these are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the manner of applying the method and apparatus in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions for casting a particular metal or alloy.

The various features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following description of continuous strip casting methods and apparatus incorporating the invention, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a continuous stripcasting machine embodying the present invention as seen looking at the input end (molten bath region) of the machine from a position adjacent to the control panel, which is positioned near one corner of the reservoir tank for the cooling liquid. For convenience of illustration the box for the molten metal and the pour distributor which feeds the molten metal down into the bath region are omitted from this View;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of this machine as seen looking at the output end, and showing the control panel;

FGURE 3 is a longitudinal elevational sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the axes of the various r-olls and with parts shown partially broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the machine taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3 looking toward the input end;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bath region as seen looking down and forwardly showing the lateral position adjustment mechanism for the stationary and moving edge dams, the cooling wiper Sponges for the stationary dams, and with portions of the upper and lower belts shown cut away to reveal the grooved nip roll which guides the upper belt down into the molten metal bath. This ligure shows the header for cooling the bend of the upper belt as it curves under the nip roll, this header having nozzles fitting down into the grooves of the nip roll, and also shows the relationship of the molten metal to the moving and stationary edge dams and to the pour distributor;

FIGURE 6 is a -side elevational sectional view of the pour distributor for the molten metal; and

FIGURE 7 is a top View, with portions shown broken away to reveal features of this pour distributor.

General description In this example, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, the molten metal is supplied from a pouring box 2 made from heat insulating material, as will be described in detail further below. The rate at which the metal is fed down through an outlet 4 in the bottom is controlled by the operator by adjustment of a tapered stopper 6 carried on a vertical threaded rod 8 which is screwed through a support bar 10. This arrangement for pouring from the bottom of the metal supply 11 leaves any particles of slag or oxidized metal floating on the surface of the supply remaining in the pour box. As the metal flows down along the numerous narrow distribution grooves 12 in the distributor plate 14 its velocity is controlled by friction with the walls of the numerous grooves while the atmosphere is excluded by a distributor cover 16 and by a front baille 17 forming a transverse distribution channel 18. The incoming metal flows from this channel by passing forward under the front baille 1'7 and is smoothly and uniformly released beneath the surface of the existing 3 molten pool or bath B, which is maintained during operation and is seen most clearly in FIGURES 5 and 6.

From the bath B the molten metal is carried into the casting region formed between the opposed surfaces of upper and lower flexible casting belts and 22, respectively, and generally indicated at C (see FIGURE 3). These casting belts are formed lof flexible and heat resistant sheet metal having a relatively high tensile strength, for example, conventional cold-rolled low-carbon sheet -steel having its ends welded together with both surfaces at the weld being ground smooth and ush to form a continuous wide band or belt having a smooth outer or front surface operates very well. The belts are relatively wide and thin, for example, of the order of 46 inches in width and, for example, having a thickness lying in the range from 0.015 to 0.035 of an inch. This illustrative system operates very well with belts having a thickness of 0.025 of an inch. The two belts are supported and driven by means of upper and lower carriages, generally indicated at U and L, respectively.

These two casting belts are driven at the same linear speed.

During operation these belts are held under a high tension, for example, such as 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of tension force are exerted by the main end rolls on each belt for a belt 46 inches wide, as shown. The belts are supported, that is, backed up so that their opposed front surfaces are held planar and uniformly spaced over the length of the casting region C. The molten metal is solidified between the casting belts by withdrawing heat through them by means lof liquid coolant 24 (see FIGURES 1 and 2) supplied into numerous nozzle and header assemblies 23 and 25 from a reservoir tank 26 extending beneath the machine.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the liquid coolant 24 is drawn from the reservoir 26 through a large conduit 27 feeding to a large capacity centrifugal pump (not shown), for example, such as a double-suction, single stage centrifugal pump having a capacity of 3,000 gallons per minute and driven by a 75 horsepower motor. This liquid is returned through a flexible coupling conduit 29 to a coolant supply main 31 (see FIGURES 1 and 4) which extends along the rear of the machine and feeds coolant into the various nozzle and header assemblies 23 and 25 and also to other headers. Because of the large quantities of coolant being pumped, it is desirable to avoid any sharp bends in the conduit or supply main. The pump is positioned as close to the side of the tank 26 as convenient and then a large radius sweeping curve feeds up into the fiexible coupling 29.

The upper carriage U can be raised further away from the lower carriage or lowered down closer to the lower carriage so as to cast strips of various thickness. The width of the strip being cast is determined by the spacing between a pair of moving side dams 28 and 30 which run between the respective edges of the casting belts in the `casting region (see also FIGURE 4) and also is determined by the spacing between a pair of stationary side dams 32 and 34 (see FIGURE 5) in the bath region which are associated with the respective moving side dams 28 and 30. This spacing between these sets of dams is readily adjusted so as to change the width of cast strip.

As will be noted particularly clearly in FIGURES Vl, 3, and 5 the lower belt 22 has a planar area at the input (left) end of the machine which is held taut in true alignment with the portion of the lower belt in the casting region. The incoming molten metal from the distribution channel 18 feeds into the molten bath B which is supported on this forwardly extending portion of the lower belt.

In order to prevent the pool B from spilling over the edges of the lower belt and to retain the molten metal in the casting region C between the belts, there are provided two sets of inter-engaging moving and stationary edge dams. The two moving dams 28 and 30 are positioned so that they continuously run along down into the casting region C engaging the front surfaces of both belts in the casting region. The moving dams provide a tight seal against leakage of the molten metal at either edge of the strip being cast so as to define the exact width `of strip desired. These two moving dams are identical in construction and each is in the form of an endless loop which is somewhat longer than the lower belt 22. Both moving dams hang down freely beneath the lower carriage L during their return trip back to the input end of the machine.

In this example, the moving dams 28 and 30 are formed by numerous small blocks 36 (FIG. 5) of hard, heatresistant metal, for example, cold-rolled carbon steel, which are strung in end-to-end relationship onto a rnetal strap.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 5, the full height of the moving dams is exposed to the molten metal along both edges of the molten bath B. These moving dams confine the metal while at the same time they provide a continuous movement along both sides of the pool B so as to prevent any excessive solidification or freezing up of the metal at the edges.

In order to guide the moving dams, each of the stationary dams has its inner face flush with the inner face of the associated moving dam and has a guide shoe 48 bearing against the inner surface of its associated moving dam. As shown, the guide shoe 48 is formed by a plate of steel secured by screws 50 flush against the inner surface of the stationary dam 32. The guide 48 extends down close to the lower belt 22 just forward of the bath B, and its forward end is flared out at 52 to guide smoothly the blocks of the moving dam.

For purposes of providing additional guidance for the moving dams 28 and 30 before they arrive at the guide shoes 48 and the guide bars 54, a rigid leg 56 (see FIG- URES 43 and 5) is secured by screws 57 to each of the stationary dams and extends down to hold a pair of lead guides 58 and 59. Thus, whatever may be the laterally adjusted positions of the stationary dams 32 and 34, the moving dams are controlled by the stationary dams, being positively guided and held thereby in the desired positions.

As mentioned previously, one of the advantages of the present methods and apparatus is the ease with which adjustment is made to produce strips of different widths. The upper ends of the stationary dams 32 and 34 are adjustably held by a pair of clamps 60 and 62, respectively. Each clamp includes a pair of grooved slides 64, as indicated in FIGURE 5, which run along lateral ways 66 formed by the opposite edges of the upper ange of an I-beam 65. These ways 66 are machined so as to be square edged and truly parallel. To lock these clamps in position, the operator tightens the clamping screws 67 which are anchored in the edges of a vertical bracket 68 having a pair -of slots 69 in its upper end so as to permit vertical adjustment of the free end of the stationary dam which is locked to these slots by clamping bolts 70 (as shown also in FIGURE l).

Cooling means are provided for each of the stationary dams 32 and 34. As shown in FIGURE 5, this cooling is provided by an internal passageway 72 for coolant. The coolant is fed into the passageway '72 through a flexible inlet hose 73 connected to a nipple projecting from the outside edge of the dam ahead of the molten pool B and is fed out through another flexible hose 74 near the place where the stationary dam engages the upper belt 22. This coolant is supplied from the main 31 and the return through the hoses 74 is dumped back into the tank 26.

As will be appreciated, the stationary dams 32 and 34 ride on top of their associated moving dams 28 and 30 so as to retain the molten pool. In order to provide a tight seal against the upper belt as it curves down under the nip roll `44, the downstream end of each stationary dam hasa cylindrical concave saddle 75 (see FIGURE 5) ending at a sharp cusp 76 (see FIGURE 3) which proseeehr/2 jects inward under the curve of the upper belt ending at a point where the upper belt converges against the top of the moving dam.

As mentioned in the introductory portion of the specication, the molten metal solidities between the upper and lower belts and 22. During this soliditicaation tremendous quantities of heat are liberated per unit weight of strip being cast because, in addition to cooling the molten metal down to its freezing point, its heat of fusion must be removed as it solidiiies, and then cooled further before discharge from between the belts.

In order to give the reader an impression of relative size it is noted that in this example the total distance in FIGURE 3 from the point beneath a nip roll 44 at which the upper belt 20 lirst straightens out after passing under this roll over to the point beneath the upper downstream main roll '78 at which the upper belt tirst begins to curve up around this roll is 4 feet and 1 inch. The total distance from the point at which the lower belt 22 iirst straightens out after passing around the lower upstream roll S0 over to the point at which the lower belt begins curving down around the lower downstream roll 82 is a total distance of 6 feet 5 inches.

In order to provide tremendous cooling capacity to these planar portions of the belts, substantially continuous high speed lms of coolant are created and maintained tlowing along at high speed against their respective reverse surfaces.

In this example, the coolant 24 in the reservoir tank 26 is Water to which a suitable rust inhibitor, such as sodium chromate has been added in a concentration of 6.7 ounces per 100 gallons of water. The reservoir tank 26 holds 1,200 gallons of water in normal usage, for example, in casting aluminum or aluminum alloys` These high-speed water lms are enabled to be substantially continuous by virtue of the fact that the backup rollers 86 only touch the reverse surfaces of the belts at quite-widely spaced points where numerous relatively high, thin ridges 87 provide a knife-edge-like contact with the belt. These high, thin ridges on the back-up rollers are illustrated generally in FIGURE 4.

As seen in FIGURES l, 2, 3, and 4 the main framework of the apparatus includes a pair of columns 188 and 189 near the input and discharge ends, respectively. A top beam 190 spans across between the upper ends of these columns. As seen in FIGURE 4 this top beam 190 is formed by a pair of spaced back-to-back channel members 191 and 192, which are rigidly fastened together by pairs of plates 193 and 194 (FIGURE l) and braced by pairs of diagonals 19S and 196 (FIGURE 3). A hoist plate 197 (FIGURE l) is secured to the column 18S between the diagonal braces 195, and other hoist connections (not shown) are provided near the corners of the machine inside of the tank 26 near the bottom. As seen best in FIGURES 3 and 4 a sill I-beam 198 spans between the columns 188 and 189 and is parallel with the top beam. This sill beam is braced from underneath by diagonal members 199 and 200e which extend down to the bottom of the tank adjacent to the foot of each of these columns.

The lower belt carriage L which supports and operates the lower belt 22 includes a pair of parallel long narrow rectangular frames 200 extending between opposite ends of the main lower rolls 80 and 82. As seen most clearly in FIGURES l and 2 these main lower rolls have short projecting shafts 201 and 202 which are journaled in bearings Carried by pillow blocks 203 and 204 at each end of each frame 200. Each frame 200 includes a longitudinal upper frame element 206 carrying the back-up rollers and cooling header assemblies 23 and 25 and includes a longitudinal lower frame element 208. In order to prevent racking of the lower carriage, an X-frame formed by a pair of angle irons 209 and 210 (FIGURES 3 and 4) extends across between the longitudinal elements 20S, with a wide thick plate brace forming the bottom of the gutter 129 and providing additional strength.

This lower carriage is suspended solely by means of a pair of spaced, parallel inverted-T-shaped cantilever arms 212 and 214 which extend across the width of the lower carriage passing between the upper and lower longitudinal elements 206 and 20S. It will be noted in FIGURE 4 that the ends of the X-frame 209 and 210 are secured to the lower anges of these cantilever arms at 215 and 216.

These cantilever arms 212 and 214 are each supported at a point where they rest on top of the sill beam 198, as seen in FIGURE 4.

The large tension force for the lower belt is applied by a rubber-coated tensioning roller 230 which is operated by a bell-crank 232 and a pressure-operated cylinder and piston 234 secured to the carriage frame 200 by a bracket 236 (FIGURE 2) and pivot pin 237; a similar arrangement is used for tensioning the upper belt.

The upper belt carriage U is generally similar to the lower one except that the two rectangular frames 240 are shorter and higher and have input end members 241 extending up to carry an upper main roll 242 which is located generally above the nip roll 44. The upper downstream roll 78 is carried by a pair of pillow blocks 243, and a rubber-coated belt-tensioning roller 230 is used. Each frame 240 includes a lower longitudinal element 244 carrying the back-up rollers 86 and the nozzle and header assemblies 23 and 25, and includes an upper parallel longitudinal element 246.

As seen in FIGURES l, 2, 3, and 4, a large pressureoperated cylinder and piston 25S are supported on the channels 191 and 192 of the top beam 190 by means of a pair of trunnion pivots 256 and 257. A piston rod 253 extends down from the cylinder 25S and is connected by a pivot 259 to a pair of parallel links 260 so as to support the upper carriage U, as will be explained in more detail below.

In order to hold the two carriages in proper alignment with each other, there are a pair of opstanding guide rods 262 and 264 rigidly secured to the frames 200 of the lower carriage by pairs of brackets 265 and 265. Corresponding pairs of brackets 267 and 26S are secured to the frames 240 of the upper carriage and slidingly engage these guide rods.

In order to raise and lower the upper carriage, a lever 270 is provided, projecting into the upper carriage. The slotted front end of this lever straddles a bracket 271 and is pivoted thereto by a pin 273. This bracket extends down from between a pair of heavy transverse members 272 which are secured to both frames 240 and thus supports the upper carriage` A ulcrum for this lever 270 is established at the remote end by a pivot pin 274 passing through the upper end of a link 252. The supporting force is applied to the center portion of this lever 270 by a roller pin 276 passing through the lower ends of the two parallel pivoted links 260.

In operation the spacing between the upper and lower carriages is provided by a series of precise spacing stops 278 which tit into sockets along the upper edges of the frame elements 206 and engage against the underside of the frames of the upper carriage. When it is desired to cast a thicker or thinner strip the upper carriage is raised and the moving edge dams and spacers 278 are correspondingly changed.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3, the belts 20 and 22 are driven at an adjustable speed by means of a 2-H.P. electric motor 322 coupled through a Variable speed-reducer 324 to a sprocket chain 326. This chain passes around a tixed sprocket 328 and engages suitable sprockets fixed on the shafts of the rolls 78 and 82. An automatic spring-loaded chain tensioner and sprocket is shown at 330. With this drive arrangement the upper belt can always be driven regardless of the elevation of the upper carriage.

Pour distributor for slowing down and uniformly distributing the molten metal The pour distributor shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 has been generally discussed above, but there are certain features of this embodiment which are important. The individual passageways 12 are only about 1A of an inch wide and become progressively deeper as they run down to the channel 18. This increasing depth provides an expanding cross-sectional area for the molten metal to flow between the walls of the grooves so as to slow it down before it enters the channel 18, thus preventing undue turbulence. Thus, advantageously, there is a restriction of flow as the metal passes into the shallow part of the groove 12. This restriction is caused by the corner 331. Then, as the metal continues by confined iiow down through the grooves 12 it slows down because of the increasing cross-sectional area thereof. These passageways 12 are formed by cutting slots into the .solid bottom plate 14 which is fabricated from asbestos material. In order to prevent premature freezing of the metal in the distributor the parts of the distributor which are in engagement with the hot metal are made of asbestos or similar material of low heat conductivity.

As used herein the following words are intended to have the following meaning: Strip is intended to include an elongated plate or slab having substantial width and thickness as well as thin, narrow slats. The term ridges on a roller is intended to include lands having a substantial Width at their perimeters as Well as tins which are almost as sharp as knife edges.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the continuous strip casting methods and apparatus of the present invention described above are well suited to provide the advantages set forth, and since many possible embodiments may be made of the various features of this invention and as the methods and apparatus herein described may be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and that in certain instances, some of the features of the invention may be used without a corresponding use of other features, all without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a machine for casting metal strip directly from molten metal wherein the molten metal is fed into a casting region formed by the adjacent parallel surfaces of upper and lower belts moving at the same speed and wherein a portion of the lower belt extends beyond the upper belt for supporting molten metal thereon in a bath, apparatus for pouring the molten metal and for distributing it into the bath comprising a pouring box having an outlet near the bottom, adjustable stopper' t means for controlling the passage of metal through said outlet, a distributor plate of heat insulating material beneath said outlet and having an edge adjacent to the extending portion of the lower belt, said distributor plate having a plurality of grooves cut therein which are shallow beneath said outlet and which become progressively deeper as they run down to said edge, wall means enclosing the metal as it moves from the outlet into the shallow part of the grooves, a top plate overlying said grooves and having a portion near the shallow end of said grooves for restricting the flow of metal down said grooves, said top plate overhanging said edge of the distributor plate at the deep ends of said grooves, and a batiie secured to the overhanging top plate in spaced relationship with the deeper ends of said grooves forming anenclosed distribution channel running along said edge of the distributor plate across the extending portion of the lower belt.

2. In a machine for casting metal strip directly from molten metal wherein the molten metal is fed into a casting region 4defined between a pair of flexible endless moving casting belts having portions thereof travelling in spaced face-to-face relationship, apparatus for pouring the molten metal and for distributing it into the casting region comprising pouring means for the molten metal having an outlet, a distributor plate of heat insulating material having a plurality of grooves defined therein for receiving the molten metal from said outlet, said distributor plate having an end adjacent to the entrance to the casting region, said grooves being shallow at the ends thereof near said outlet for receiving the molten metal from said outlet and becoming progressively deeper as they extend toward the end of the distributor plate adjacent to the entrance to the casting region, and a top plate overlying said grooves, said top plate having a region near the shallow ends of said groove for restricting the flow of molten metal along said grooves and for excluding the air from said grooves said top plate and said grooves forming enclosed distribution channels of progressively increasing depth for conducting the molten metal toward the entrance to the casting region at a progressively decreasing rate of travel.

3. In a machine for casting metal strip directly from molten metal by casting the molten metal between portions of a pair of endless exible moving belts, said portions of the casting belts travelling in spaced apart parallel face-to-face relationship defining a casting region therebetween, apparatus for pouring the molten metal and for distributing it into the entrance to the casting region comprising pouring means for the molten metal, a distributor plate of heat insulating material having a multiplicity of narrow grooves defined therein for receiving the molten metal from the pouring means and for conducting it toward the entrance to the casting region, said grooves being narrow and becoming progressively deeper in the direction of flow of the molten metal along said grooves, whereby the velocity of the molten metal is progressively slowed down by the increasing effect of lfriction with the walls of said grooves, and a top plate overlying said grooves for excluding the atmosphere therefrom.

4. In a machine for casting metal strip directly from molten metal, apparatus for pouring the molten metal and for distributing it into the casting region as claimed in claim 3 and wherein said grooves are about 1A of an inch wide and the increasing depth of said grooves provides an expanding cross-sectional area for the molten metal to ow between the walls of said grooves for progressively retarding its rate of liow into the casting region.

5. In a machine for continuously casting molten metal by feeding the molten metal into a casting region provided between a pair of flexible endless moving casting belts having portions thereof travelling in spaced faceto-face relationship providing the casting region therebetween, apparatus for distributing the molten metal into the casting region comprising a container for the molten metal having outlet means, distributing means of heat insulation material defining a plurality of passages extending from said outlet means toward the casting region for carrying the molten metal therethrough, said insulation material surrounding said passages for excluding the atmosphere therefrom, said passages having a sub- ,stantially uniform width and a progressively increasing vertical height in the direction of movement of the molten metal, and restriction means forming a restriction in said passages near the shallow ends of said passages for providing a consigned flow of the molten metal along said passages of progressively slower movement for preventing turbulence of the molten metal entering said casting region.

6. In a machine for continuously casting molten metal by feeding the molten metal into a casting region provided between a pair of flexible endless moving casting belts having portions thereof travelling in spaced face-to-face relationship providing the casting region therebetween, apparatus for distributing the molten metal into the casting region comprising supply means for supplying the molten metal, container means for the molten metal, ow control means for adjusting the flow of the molten metal from said supply means into said container means, distributor apparatus providing a plurality otpassages for carrying the molten metal from said container means to the casting region, said passages having wall surfaces of heat insulation material, Arestriction means for restricting said passages near said container means, said passages having progressively greater height in the direction of flow of the molten metal, whereby the Walls of said passages provide increasing area for progressively slowing the movement of the molten metal therethrough by providing progressively increasing frictional drag.

7. In a machine for continuously casting molten metal by feeding the molten metal into a casting region provided between a pair of exible endless moving casting belts having portions thereof travelling in spaced faceto-face relationship providing the casting region therebetween, apparatus for distributing the molten metal into the casting region comprising supply means for supplying the molten metal, distributor means extending from said supply means toward the casting region and providing numerous narrow slots for feeding the molten metal along said slots into the casting region, said slots having a depth of more than twice their Width, and the walls of said slots having extensive surface area in contact with the molten metal for progressively slowing the rate of the ow of the molten metal by frictional drag along the wall surface areas in contact with the molten metal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,824,684 9/1931 Pine 25-103 2,752,649 7/1956 Hunter 22-57.4 2,904,860 9/1959 Hazelett 25-57.4 2,978,761 4/1961 Foye et al. 2257.4

20 J. SPENCER ovERHoLsER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. WHITE, MICHAEL V. BRINDISI,

Examiners. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR CASTING METAL STRIP DIRECTLY FROM MOLTEN METAL WHEREIN THE MOLTEN METAL IS FED INTO A CASTING REGION FORMED BY THE ADJACENT PARALLE SURFACES OF UPPER AND LOWER BELTS MOVING AT THE SAME SPEED AND WHEREIN A PORTION OF THE LOWER BELT EXTENDS BEYOND THE UPPER BELT FOR SUPPORTING MOLTEN METAL THEREON IN A BATH, APPARATUS FOR POURING THE MOLTEN METAL AND FOR DISTRIBUTING IT INTO THE BATH COMPRISING A POURING BOX HAVING AN OUTLET NEAR THE BOTTOM, ADJUSTABLE STOPPER MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE PASSAGE OF METAL THROUGH SAID OUTLET, A DISTRIBUTOR PLATE OF HEAT INSULATING MATERIAL BENEATH SAID OUTLET AND HAVING AN EDGE ADJACENT TO THE EXTENDING PORTION OF THE LOWER BELT, SAID DISTRIBUTOR PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF GROOVES CUT THEREIN WHICH ARE SHALLOW BENEATH SAID OUTLET AND WHICH BECOME PROGRESSIVELY DEEPER AS THEY RUN DOWN TO SAID EDGE, WALL MEANS ENCLOSING THE METAL AS IT MOVES FROM THE OUTLET INTO THE SHALLOW PART OF THE GROOVES, A TOP PLATE OVERLYING SAID GROOVES AND HAVING A PORTION NEAR THE SHALLOW END OF SAID GROOVES FOR RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF METAL DOWN SAID GROOVES, SAID TOP PLATE OVERHANGING SAID EDGE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR PLATE AT THE DEEP ENDS OF SAID GROOVES, AND A BAFFLE SECURED TO THE OVERHANGING TOP PLATE IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEEPER ENDS OF SAID GROOVES FORMING AN ENCLOSED DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL RUNNING ALONG SAID EDGE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR PLATE ACROSS THE EXTENDING PORTION OF THE LOWER BELT. 